F1 driver market

Two days after reports questioned Carlos Sainz's Williams move, fresh coverage says he is close to signing an extension with a salary increase to €13 million, shifting the driver market narrative.

Guenther Steiner identifies a Red Bull advantage as Max Verstappen's future team remains undecided, with speculation linking him to McLaren. The outcome is uncertain.

Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner said he would consider returning to Formula 1 if an appealing project emerged, two days after his exit was first reported. He emphasized needing a genuine opportunity, not just any role.

Kimi Antonelli leads the Formula 1 standings by 50 points, but Toto Wolff refuses to call him the championship favourite. Recent articles discuss betting value and his potential ranking among surprise title winners.

Oliver Bearman has been advised to pursue a Plan B for his F1 career, as Lewis Hamilton's resurgence may close the Ferrari door. The advice came from Martin Brundle, with Bearman also revealing a new bike shop venture.

Former IndyCar driver James Hinchcliffe predicted Racing Bulls will score a podium in the 2026 F1 season. PlanetF1 linked the prediction to Red Bull driver decisions involving Lawson or Lindblad.

Mika Hakkinen urged McLaren not to pursue Max Verstappen for 2027, warning against disrupting their current driver lineup. The two-time champion's comments add to speculation about Verstappen's future.

Articles analyse George Russell's 2026 F1 season, where a 59-point deficit to teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli has derailed his title challenge after early wins.

Sergio Perez admitted he had doubts about returning to F1 with Cadillac, and later explained what is holding the debutant team back in the 2026 season, where they remain pointless after 11 rounds.

Damon Hill likened the Mercedes intra-team battle between Kimi Antonelli and George Russell in the 2026 F1 season to his own 1996 title fight with Jacques Villeneuve.

Alex Albon announced a contract extension with Williams using a social post mimicking Oscar Piastri's famous Alpine tweet. Team principal James Vowles expressed confidence in the team's future progress.

Guenther Steiner predicted George Russell could move to Audi in 2028 and gave the Mercedes driver only a five percent chance of winning the 2026 title.

Toto Wolff warns Kimi Antonelli's championship lead is not secure after the Mercedes driver extended his points advantage at the Hungarian Grand Prix.